How to Build and Lead a Sustainable Safety Culture (Part 1)

In our recent blog and vlog series on safety culture, we talked about how to promote safety as a core value instead of a high priority, and we looked at why it’s important to view safety in that way. Remember, if a principle or ideal is imposed upon me externally, I’m not likely to embrace it as my own. I may comply with it under normal circumstances; but it doesn’t command my full commitment because it never quite makes it beyond the level of external priority. And because of that there’s really nothing inherent in that ideal or principle to motivate me to comply with it if there is pressure to comply with a competing priority.

But if, instead, I “catch” it, and I thereby embrace it as my own, it then becomes internalized and part of my make-up–it becomes a value and belief that I hold. Then, when I’m in a situation that forces me to choose between safety and some other high-urgent priority, since they are no longer in the same category (one is a priority and the other is a belief), I now have something that provides internal motivation to do the right thing.

But how exactly do we get people to embrace safety as their own core value? We’ve already talked about a numbers ways to do this. We know, for instance, we need to tie it to other core values and beliefs they already hold, and we have to make the connection for them. We have to change the way we communicate, the way we coach and the way we lead safety. But what else is required?

In this series, I’m going to show you just how to pull all those pieces together to help you build and lead a culture of sustainable safety culture. And I’ll start by showing you an overview of a multi-step process that I myself typically use when I work with a client to improve their safety culture.

Let’s assume for the sake of this scenario that we’ve already conducted the necessary pre-assessments, interviews, gap analysis, etc. And let’s assume we now have a good picture of their safety climate and the issues they’re facing. What do we do next?

Although I tailor this to each client I work with, the process I use is built and executed on the same four basic principles. In short, the program or process must be:

Values-based: we must impart a new way of thinking about safety, and we must provide a venue that is conducive to a paradigm shift in what we think and believe about safety.

Performance-based: we must develop real competencies in those whom we have entrusted to lead safety in their areas (this goes well beyond training).

Outcomes-based: we must have a clearly defined overarching goal and a proven avenue to reach it.

Sustainability-based: we must build capability into the program stewards so that they can continue running the program long after we’re gone.

So what does the process actually look like? The process template we use includes five main areas of focus:

Field Coaching Development (target is operations in partnership with EHS)

Corporate Integration (it’s not a true culture unless the entire organization is included)

Ownership hand-off (here’s where we officially pass the mantle to the program stewards)

These are the high-level components. There are other things that we may or may not include in this process, depending on the implementation. And bear in mind there are other things that we always do in the background to ensure success, such as change management and working with executive leadership. But we’ll save that for another series.

In the meantime, starting with our next video blog we’ll begin addressing each one of these in detail to show you what it looks like and how it’s executed. Until then, please enjoy our video blog below; and be sure all your safety initiatives are built-in, not bolted on.

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About the Author

Eric Svendsen, Ph.D., is Principal and lead change agent for safetyBUILT-IN, a safety-leadership learning and development organization. He has over 20 years experience in creating and executing outcomes-based leadership development and culture change initiatives aligned to organizational goals, and he personally led the safety-culture initiatives of a number of client organizations that resulted in “best ever safety performance” years for those companies.

Testimonials

“Outstanding workshop! It was far more than a safety meeting. This will have an impact on our operation. I am anxious to send my next level of management at the next opportunity.” Joe Gednalske, Director of Product Development

“This was one of the best leadership workshops that I’ve been to in my career (simple and effective tools)! It will help drive safety as a core value. I think it will really make people better leaders as a whole. That will drive our overall business in the right direction, starting with safety.” Shawn Myers,… Read more ““One of the Best Leadership Workshops””

“The safetyBUILT-IN team provided our employees with a perspective on how to view safety such that they want to be involved in leading safety in the organization. The program gave us simple, understandable tools and techniques for leading and coaching not only safety but every other discipline we deal with in the work environment. I… Read more ““Changed Our Mindset About Safety””

“What stood out to me the most was that coaching based on core values is more effective than citing compliance to policies. Every supervisor and manager should attend!” Pat Hodgson, SHE Manager | BAE Systems

“I have attended other safety workshops in the past, but none has ever laid out the skills building and leadership qualities like this one. I was fully engaged the entire two days. I can’t wait to practice these skills.” Phil Laudolff | General Mills

“Being a manager of safety comes with many challenges. I have learned over time that the traditional style of safety compliance training, such as videos, generic presentations, etc., may not be totally effective for ensuring our employees understand the pertinent information presented, and how to utilize that information as part of their every day life.… Read more ““Gives Employees a New Way of Thinking …””

In my 25 years of EHS work, I have never seen so much positive response from a Safety program. Typical responses identify the fact that this is so much more than Safety Training – it is Leadership training that will help them in all aspects of their employee engagement efforts. I believe, with continued leadership… Read more ““Transformational””

“Strong and clear leadership course that brings practical and effective methods to identify opportunities, resolve them, coach, and drive results. Clear, meaningful subject matter, and fantastic materials. Love the ‘do’ focus of the course and the ongoing feedback–and the facilitator actually practices the methods during the course! Informs the mind, but superbly connects to the… Read more ““One of the Best Experiences …””

“Facilitator was one of the best, if not the best presenter and speaker that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I believe this training is important and pertinent enough to allocate the appropriate needed expenditures to ensure that ALL SUPERVISORS AND LEAD PEOPLE from every location in the pipeline attend. I was… Read more ““All Leaders Need to Attend””

“Facilitator was one of the best, if not the best presenter and speaker that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I believe this training is important and pertinent enough to allocate the appropriate needed expenditures to ensure that ALL SUPERVISORS AND LEAD PEOPLE from every location in the pipeline attend. I was… Read more ““All Leaders Need to Attend””

“This was one of the best leadership workshops that I’ve been to in my career (simple and effective tools)! It will help drive safety as a core value. I think it will really make people better leaders as a whole. That will drive our overall business in the right direction, starting with safety.” Shawn Myers,… Read more ““One of the Best Leadership Workshops””

“I have attended other safety workshops in the past, but none has ever laid out the skills building and leadership qualities like this one. I was fully engaged the entire two days. I can’t wait to practice these skills.” Phil Laudolff | General Mills

“What stood out to me the most was that coaching based on core values is more effective than citing compliance to policies. Every supervisor and manager should attend!” Pat Hodgson, SHE Manager | BAE Systems

In my 25 years of EHS work, I have never seen so much positive response from a Safety program. Typical responses identify the fact that this is so much more than Safety Training – it is Leadership training that will help them in all aspects of their employee engagement efforts. I believe, with continued leadership… Read more ““Transformational””

“Outstanding workshop! It was far more than a safety meeting. This will have an impact on our operation. I am anxious to send my next level of management at the next opportunity.” Joe Gednalske, Director of Product Development

“Strong and clear leadership course that brings practical and effective methods to identify opportunities, resolve them, coach, and drive results. Clear, meaningful subject matter, and fantastic materials. Love the ‘do’ focus of the course and the ongoing feedback–and the facilitator actually practices the methods during the course! Informs the mind, but superbly connects to the… Read more ““One of the Best Experiences …””

“The safetyBUILT-IN team provided our employees with a perspective on how to view safety such that they want to be involved in leading safety in the organization. The program gave us simple, understandable tools and techniques for leading and coaching not only safety but every other discipline we deal with in the work environment. I… Read more ““Changed Our Mindset About Safety””

“Being a manager of safety comes with many challenges. I have learned over time that the traditional style of safety compliance training, such as videos, generic presentations, etc., may not be totally effective for ensuring our employees understand the pertinent information presented, and how to utilize that information as part of their every day life.… Read more ““Gives Employees a New Way of Thinking …””